JP7134672B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that records by ejecting ink from a recording head, and more particularly to an inkjet recording apparatus that includes a detachable recording head.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-100001, when two levers are required to be operated to attach and detach a recording head, the movement of the lever to be operated later is shifted first so that the two levers can be operated in the correct order. It is described that it is regulated by a lever that is operated at the same time.

JP 2012-45890 A

By adopting a configuration such as the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-200311, it is possible to prevent an erroneous lever operation when the recording head is attached or detached. However, there is no mention of the erroneous operation of attaching and detaching the recording head without operating the lever. In addition, there is a problem that the operation becomes complicated by having the operator perform a plurality of operations, and the mechanism becomes complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can prevent erroneous operations, is easy to operate, and can attach and detach a recording head with a simple mechanism.

Therefore, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is detachable from the apparatus, and a recording head that ejects ink is connected to the recording head at a connection position to transfer ink to and from the recording head. joint means movable from a connected position to a separated position where the connection with the recording head is released ; pressing means for pressing the recording head; The joint means has an abutting portion that moves the pressure releasing means by abutting when the joint means moves from the connection position, and the abutment portion is configured so that the joint means moves from the connecting position. When the joint means is at the separated position, the joint means is separated from the pressure releasing means and presses the recording head by the pressing means. is characterized by releasing the pressure of

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an ink jet recording apparatus that can prevent erroneous operations, is easy to operate, and can attach and detach the recording head with a simple mechanism.

1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control configuration in the printing apparatus; FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing when the recording device is in a recording state; (a) to (c) are diagrams showing a transport path when a recording medium is transported. (a) to (c) are diagrams showing a transport path when a recording medium is transported. (a) to (d) are diagrams showing transport paths when performing a printing operation. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing when the recording apparatus is in a maintenance state; 4 is a perspective view showing a recording head inserted into a head holder; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a joint portion where a recording head and a joint member are connected; 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a recording head pressed by a head pressing member; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a joint portion where a recording head and a joint member are connected; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a joint portion where a recording head and a joint member are connected; 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a recording head pressed by a head pressing member; FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing processing when mounting and removing a recording head.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as recording apparatus) 1 used in this embodiment. In the drawing, the x direction is the horizontal direction, the y direction (perpendicular to the paper surface) is the direction in which ejection ports are arranged in the recording head 8 described later, and the z direction is the vertical direction.

The recording apparatus 1 is a multi-function device including a print unit 2 and a scanner unit 3, and various processes related to recording operation and reading operation can be executed by the print unit 2 and the scanner unit 3 individually or in conjunction with each other. The scanner unit 3 has an ADF (automatic document feeder) and an FBS (flatbed scanner), and reads documents automatically fed by the ADF and documents placed on the document table of the FBS by the user (scanning). )It can be performed. Although the present embodiment is a multifunction device having both the printing unit 2 and the scanner unit 3, a configuration without the scanner unit 3 is also possible. FIG. 1 shows the recording apparatus 1 in a standby state in which neither recording operation nor reading operation is performed.

In the printing unit (recording unit) 2, a first cassette 5A and a second cassette 5B for containing recording media (cut sheets) S are detachably installed at the bottom of the housing 4 in the vertical direction. . The first cassette 5A accommodates relatively small recording media up to A4 size, and the second cassette 5B accommodates relatively large recording media up to A3 size in a flat stack. In the vicinity of the first cassette 5A, a first feeding unit 6A for separating and feeding the contained recording media one by one is provided. Similarly, a second feeding unit 6B is provided near the second cassette 5B. When the recording operation is performed, the recording medium S is selectively fed from one of the cassettes.

The transport roller 7, discharge roller 12, pinch roller 7a, spur 7b, guide 18, inner guide 19, and flapper 11 are a transport mechanism for guiding the recording medium S in a predetermined direction. The transport rollers 7 are driving rollers arranged upstream and downstream of the recording head 8 (platen 9) and driven by a transport motor. The pinch roller 7 a is a driven roller that rotates while nipping the recording medium S together with the transport roller 7 . The discharge roller 12 is a driving roller arranged downstream of the conveying roller 7 and driven by a discharge motor. The spur 7b nips and conveys the recording medium S together with the conveying roller 7 and the discharge roller 12 arranged downstream of the recording head 8 (platen 9).

The recording apparatus 1 is provided with a plurality of motors for driving the drive rollers, and each of the drive rollers is connected to one of the plurality of motors. The correspondence relationship between the motor and the driving roller will be described later in detail.

The guide 18 is provided on the transport path of the recording medium S and guides the recording medium S in a predetermined direction. The inner guide 19 is a member extending in the y direction and has a curved side surface, and guides the recording medium S along the side surface. The flapper 11 is a member for switching the direction in which the recording medium S is conveyed during the double-sided recording operation. The ejection tray 13 is a tray for stacking and holding the recording medium S ejected by the ejection roller 12 after the printing operation is completed.

The recording head 8 of this embodiment is a full-line type color inkjet recording head, and has a plurality of ejection openings corresponding to the width of the recording medium S along the y direction in FIG. 1 for ejecting ink according to recording data. arrayed. When the recording head 8 is at the standby position, the ejection port surface 8a of the recording head 8 faces vertically downward and is capped by the cap unit 10 as shown in FIG. When performing a printing operation, the direction of the printing head 8 is changed by the print controller 202 to be described later so that the ejection port surface 8 a faces the platen 9 . The platen 9 is composed of a flat plate extending in the y direction, and supports the recording medium S on which the recording operation is performed by the recording head 8 from the back. The movement of the recording head 8 from the standby position to the recording position will be described later in detail.

The ink tank unit 14 stores four color inks to be supplied to the recording head 8 . The ink supply unit 15 is provided in the middle of the flow path connecting the ink tank unit 14 and the recording head 8, and adjusts the pressure and flow rate of the ink inside the recording head 8 to appropriate ranges. This embodiment employs a circulating ink supply system, and the ink supply unit 15 adjusts the pressure of the ink supplied to the recording head 8 and the flow rate of the ink recovered from the recording head 8 within appropriate ranges.

The maintenance unit 16 includes the cap unit 10 and the wiping unit 17 and activates them at predetermined timings to perform maintenance operations on the recording head 8 . The maintenance operation will be explained later in detail.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration in the printing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. The control configuration is mainly composed of a print engine unit 200 that controls the print section 2, a scanner engine unit 300 that controls the scanner section 3, and a controller unit 100 that controls the entire printing apparatus 1. FIG. The print controller 202 controls various mechanisms of the print engine unit 200 according to instructions from the main controller 101 of the controller unit 100 . Various mechanisms of the scanner engine unit 300 are controlled by the main controller 101 of the controller unit 100 . Details of the control configuration will be described below.

In the controller unit 100 , a main controller 101 composed of a CPU controls the entire printing apparatus 1 using a RAM 106 as a work area according to programs and various parameters stored in a ROM 107 . For example, when a print job is input from the host device 400 via the host I/F 102 or wireless I/F 103, the image processing unit 108 performs predetermined image processing on the received image data according to instructions from the main controller 101. Apply. Then, the main controller 101 transmits the processed image data to the print engine unit 200 via the print engine I/F 105 .

The printing apparatus 1 may acquire image data from the host apparatus 400 via wireless communication or wired communication, or may acquire image data from an external storage device (such as a USB memory) connected to the printing apparatus 1. Also good. A communication method used for wireless communication or wired communication is not limited. For example, Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) can be applied as a communication method used for wireless communication. As a communication method used for wired communication, USB (Universal Serial Bus) or the like can be applied. Also, for example, when a read command is input from the host device 400 , the main controller 101 transmits this command to the scanner section 3 via the scanner engine I/F 109 .

The operation panel 104 is a mechanism for the user to input/output to/from the printing apparatus 1 . A user can instruct operations such as copying and scanning, set a print mode, and recognize information of the printing apparatus 1 via the operation panel 104 .

In the print engine unit 200 , a print controller 202 configured by a CPU controls various mechanisms provided in the print section 2 while using a RAM 204 as a work area according to programs and various parameters stored in a ROM 203 . When various commands and image data are received via the controller I/F 201 , the print controller 202 temporarily stores them in the RAM 204 . The print controller 202 causes the image processing controller 205 to convert the stored image data into print data so that the print head 8 can be used for printing operations. When print data is generated, the print controller 202 causes the print head 8 to perform a print operation based on the print data via the head I/F 206 . At this time, the print controller 202 drives the feeding units 6A and 6B, the transport rollers 7, the ejection rollers 12, and the flapper 11 shown in FIG.

The conveying control unit 207 is connected to a detecting unit 212 that detects the conveying state of the recording medium S and a driving unit 211 that drives a plurality of driving rollers. 211 is used to control the transport of the recording medium S. FIG. The detection unit 212 has a detection member 20 that detects the presence or absence of the recording medium S and an encoder 21 that detects the amount of rotation of the drive roller.

While the recording medium S is conveyed by the conveyance control unit 207, the recording head 8 performs a recording operation according to instructions from the print controller 202, and print processing is performed.

The head carriage control unit 208 changes the direction and position of the recording head 8 according to the operating state such as the maintenance state and recording state of the recording apparatus 1 . The ink supply control unit 209 controls the ink supply unit 15 so that the pressure of the ink supplied to the recording head 8 is within an appropriate range. The maintenance control unit 210 controls operations of the cap unit 10 and the wiping unit 17 in the maintenance unit 16 when performing maintenance operations on the recording head 8 .

In the scanner engine unit 300 , the main controller 101 controls hardware resources of the scanner controller 302 while using the RAM 106 as a work area according to programs and various parameters stored in the ROM 107 . As a result, various mechanisms provided in the scanner section 3 are controlled. For example, the main controller 101 controls the hardware resources in the scanner controller 302 via the controller I/F 301 to transport the document placed on the ADF by the user via the transport control unit 304 and read it by the sensor 305 . . The scanner controller 302 stores the read image data in the RAM 303 . The print controller 202 converts the image data acquired as described above into print data, thereby making it possible for the print head 8 to execute a print operation based on the image data read by the scanner controller 302. .

FIG. 3 shows the recording apparatus 1 in the recording state. 1, the cap unit 10 is separated from the ejection port surface 8a of the recording head 8, and the ejection port surface 8a faces the platen 9. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the plane of the platen 9 is tilted about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction, and the ejection port surface 8a of the recording head 8 at the recording position is also tilted horizontally so that the distance from the platen 9 is kept constant. is tilted about 45 degrees with respect to

When moving the print head 8 from the standby position shown in FIG. 1 to the print position shown in FIG. 3, the print controller 202 uses the maintenance control section 210 to lower the cap unit 10 to the retracted position shown in FIG. As a result, the ejection opening surface 8a of the recording head 8 is separated from the cap member. Thereafter, the print controller 202 rotates the recording head 8 by 45 degrees while adjusting the vertical height of the recording head 8 using the head carriage control unit 208 , so that the ejection port surface 8 a faces the platen 9 . When the print operation is completed and the print head 8 is moved from the print position to the standby position, the print controller 202 performs the reverse steps.

Next, the transport path of the recording medium S in the printing section 2 will be described. When a print command is input, the print controller 202 first uses the maintenance control section 210 and the head carriage control section 208 to move the print head 8 to the print position shown in FIG. After that, the print controller 202 uses the transport control unit 207 to drive either the first feeding unit 6A or the second feeding unit 6B according to the recording command to feed the recording medium S. FIG.

FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c) are diagrams showing the transport path when the A4 size recording medium S housed in the first cassette 5A is transported. The recording medium S stacked at the top in the first cassette 5A is separated from the second and subsequent recording media by the first feeding unit 6A, and is nipped between the conveying roller 7 and the pinch roller 7a. and the recording head 8 toward the recording area P. FIG. 4A shows the conveying state immediately before the leading edge of the recording medium S reaches the recording area P. FIG. The traveling direction of the recording medium S is changed from the horizontal direction (x direction) to a direction inclined by about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction while being fed to the first feeding unit 6A and reaching the recording area P. be.

In the recording area P, ink is ejected toward the recording medium S from a plurality of ejection openings provided in the recording head 8 . The back surface of the recording medium S in the area to which ink is applied is supported by the platen 9, and the distance between the ejection port surface 8a and the recording medium S is kept constant. While being guided by the conveying roller 7 and the spur 7b, the recording medium S to which ink has been applied passes through the left side of the flapper 11 whose tip is tilted to the right, and along the guide 18, vertically upwards of the recording apparatus 1. be transported. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the leading edge of the recording medium S passes through the recording area P and is transported vertically upward. During recording, the recording medium S moves from the bottom to the top in the recording area P inclined about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction, and its traveling direction is changed vertically upward by the conveying roller 7 and the spur 7b.

After being transported vertically upward, the recording medium S is discharged to the discharge tray 13 by the discharge roller 12 and the spur 7b. FIG. 4C shows a state in which the leading edge of the recording medium S passes through the ejection roller 12 and is ejected to the ejection tray 13 . The discharged recording medium S is held on the discharge tray 13 with the surface on which the image is recorded by the recording head 8 facing downward.

FIGS. 5(a) to 5(c) are diagrams showing the transport path when the A3 size recording medium S housed in the second cassette 5B is fed. The recording medium S stacked at the top in the second cassette 5B is separated from the second and subsequent recording media by the second feeding unit 6B, and while being nipped by the transport roller 7 and the pinch roller 7a, the platen 9 is moved. and the recording head 8 toward the recording area P.

FIG. 5A shows the conveying state immediately before the leading edge of the recording medium S reaches the recording area P. FIG. A plurality of conveying rollers 7, pinch rollers 7a, and an inner guide 19 are arranged on the conveying path from the second feeding unit 6B to the recording area P, so that the recording medium S is S-shaped. It is bent upward and conveyed to the platen 9 .

The subsequent transport path is the same as in the case of the A4 size recording medium S shown in FIGS. 4(b) and 4(c). FIG. 5B shows a state in which the leading edge of the recording medium S passes through the recording area P and is transported vertically upward. FIG. 5C shows a state in which the leading edge of the recording medium S passes through the ejection roller 12 and is ejected to the ejection tray 13 .

FIGS. 6A to 6D are diagrams showing the transport path when performing a recording operation (double-sided recording) on the back side (second side) of the A4 size recording medium S. FIG. When double-sided recording is performed, the recording operation is performed on the second side (back side) after recording on the first side (front side). The conveying process for recording the first side is the same as that shown in FIGS. Hereinafter, the transfer process after FIG. 4(c) will be described.

When the recording operation on the first side by the recording head 8 is completed and the trailing edge of the recording medium S passes the flapper 11 , the print controller 202 reversely rotates the conveying roller 7 to move the recording medium S inside the recording apparatus 1 . transport to At this time, the flapper 11 is controlled by an actuator (not shown) so that its tip is tilted to the left. It is transported vertically downward. 6A shows a state in which the leading edge of the recording medium S (the trailing edge in the recording operation on the first surface) passes the right side of the flapper 11. FIG.

After that, the recording medium S is transported along the curved outer peripheral surface of the inner guide 19 and transported to the recording area P between the recording head 8 and the platen 9 again. At this time, the second surface of the recording medium S faces the ejection port surface 8 a of the recording head 8 . FIG. 6B shows the conveying state immediately before the leading edge of the recording medium S reaches the recording area P for the recording operation on the second surface.

The transport path after that is the same as in the first surface recording shown in FIGS. 4(b) and 4(c). FIG. 6C shows a state in which the leading edge of the recording medium S passes through the recording area P and is transported vertically upward. At this time, the flapper 11 is controlled by an actuator (not shown) so that the tip thereof is tilted to the right. FIG. 6D shows a state in which the leading edge of the recording medium S passes through the ejection roller 12 and is ejected to the ejection tray 13 .

Next, maintenance operations for the recording head 8 will be described. As explained in FIG. 1, the maintenance unit 16 of this embodiment includes the cap unit 10 and the wiping unit 17, and operates these at predetermined timings to perform maintenance operations.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing when the recording apparatus 1 is in a maintenance state. When moving the recording head 8 from the standby position shown in FIG. 1 to the maintenance position shown in FIG. 7, the print controller 202 moves the recording head 8 upward in the vertical direction and moves the cap unit 10 downward in the vertical direction. Then, the print controller 202 moves the wiping unit 17 rightward in FIG. 7 from the retracted position. After that, the print controller 202 moves the recording head 8 downward in the vertical direction to the maintenance position where the maintenance operation can be performed.

On the other hand, when moving the recording head 8 from the recording position shown in FIG. 3 to the maintenance position shown in FIG. 7, the print controller 202 moves the recording head 8 vertically upward while rotating it by 45 degrees. The print controller 202 then moves the wiping unit 17 rightward from the retracted position. After that, the print controller 202 moves the recording head 8 downward in the vertical direction to the maintenance position where the maintenance operation by the maintenance unit 16 is possible.

Characteristic items of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the recording head 8 inserted into the head holder 90. As shown in FIG. As shown, the recording head 8 is inserted into a head holder 90 and used. The recording apparatus 1 includes a joint member connectable to the recording head 8 inserted into the head holder 90 . When the recording head 8 is inserted into the head holder 90 , the recording head 8 is connected to the joint member in order to supply and recover ink to the recording head 8 .

The head holder 90 is provided with two head pressing members 91. The two head pressing members 91 press the surface of the inserted recording head 8 opposite to the ejection port surface 8a. can do. The number of head pressing members 91 is not limited to this, and may be single or plural. By pressing the recording head 8 with the head pressing member 91 in this manner, stable recording can be performed while preventing the recording head 8 inserted into the head holder 90 from being easily pulled out by the user. One end of the head pressing member 91 is rotatably supported by the head holder 90 , and the other end is connected (engaged) with a head pressing spring 92 . The end of the head pressing spring 92 on the side not connected to the head pressing member 91 is connected to the side surface of the head holder 90, and the tension of the head pressing spring 92 exerts a force in the direction in which the head pressing member 91 rotates. is applied to press the recording head 8 .

The head holder 90 is provided with a spacer member (pressure release means) 93 , and the spacer member 93 is configured to receive the pressure applied to the recording head 8 by the two head pressing members 91 . . The spacer member 93 has two protruding cam portions 94 provided corresponding to the two head pressing members 91, and can slide back and forth in the inserting direction (arrow A direction) of the recording head 8. It is configured to be possible (movable). The spacer member 93 slides in the direction of arrow A, and the head pressing member 91 rides on the cam portion 94 provided on the spacer member 93 , thereby rotating the head pressing member 91 and releasing the pressure on the recording head 8 . . Further, the head pressing member 91 is separated from the cam portion 94 and separated from the spacer member 93 so that the tension of the head pressing spring 92 applies a pressing force to the recording head 8 . The cam portion 94 is provided so that the spacer member 93 slides so that the two head pressing members 91 press or release the recording head 8 at substantially the same time.

In this embodiment, the head pressing member 91 and the head pressing spring 92 press the recording head 8. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and a plate spring or the like is used instead of the head pressing member 91. Alternatively, the recording head 8 may be pressed by pressing.

FIG. 9 shows a joint portion 110 to which the recording head 8 and joint member 111 are connected. The joint member 111 is configured to be movable by being driven by a drive force of a drive source (not shown). Connection/disconnection with the member 111 is performed. The drawing shows a state in which the joint member 111 and the recording head 8 are connected. In a state in which the joint member 111 and the recording head 8 are connected, ink can be supplied to the recording head 8 and ink can be collected from the recording head 8 via the joint member 111 . The connection between the joint member 111 and the recording head 8 is released by moving the joint member 111 upward in the drawing from this connected state.

The joint member 111 has an operation member 112, and the operation member 112 moves in the direction of the arrow β as the joint member 111 moves in the direction of the arrow β. Further, the operation member 112 has an inclined portion 113 having an inclined surface, and the inclined portion 113 and the spacer member 93 are configured to come into contact with each other according to the amount of movement of the joint member 111 . The inclined portion 113 of the operation member 112 slides the spacer member 93 by changing the contact position with the spacer member 93 according to the amount of movement of the joint member 111 , and switches between pressing and releasing the recording head 8 . be able to.

In FIG. 9, the joint member 111 and the recording head 8 are in the connected state as described above, and the operation member 112 is also positioned at a sufficiently low position, so the spacer member 93 and the operation member 112 (inclined portion 113) are not in contact with each other. not in contact In this state, the spacer member 93 does not receive the force from the inclined portion 113 and therefore does not slide in the direction of the arrow α. It is pressed by a head pressing member 91 . In other words, the recording head 8 cannot be pulled out from the recording apparatus 1 in this state. In this state, the recording apparatus 1 normally performs recording.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the recording head 8 pressed by the head pressing member 91. As shown in FIG. The head pressing member 91 has a protruding portion 114 at substantially the center in the longitudinal direction, and presses the recording head 8 with the protruding portion 114 . Further, the head pressing member 91 is provided so as to straddle the spacer member 93, and the head pressing member 91 and the spacer member 93 are in contact with each other when the protrusion 114 presses the recording head 8 as shown in the figure. away without doing anything. Therefore, the tension of the head pressing spring 92 causes the head pressing member 91 to rotate and press the recording head 8 .

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the joint portion 110 where the recording head 8 and the joint member 111 are connected, and shows a state in which the connection between the recording head 8 and the joint member 111 is released. In this state, the connection between the recording head 8 and the joint member 111 is released, and the inclined portion 113 of the operation member 112 and the spacer member 93 are in contact with each other. However, the spacer member 93 is not pressed by the inclined portion 113 and does not slide. Therefore, since the head pressing member 91 and the spacer member 93 are still separated, the recording head 8 is pressed by the head pressing member 91 . As described above, in this embodiment, even if the connection between the recording head 8 and the joint member 111 is released, the pressing force of the head pressing member 91 on the recording head 8 is not released unless the joint member 111 rises to a predetermined height. is configured to That is, although the connection between the recording head 8 and the joint member 111 is released, the recording head 8 cannot be pulled out from the recording apparatus 1 because it is pressed by the head pressing member 91 .

By adopting such a configuration in the present embodiment, damage to the recording apparatus 1 and connection failure due to the user pulling out the recording head 8 before the connection between the recording head 8 and the joint member 111 is released. This prevents the inside of the recording apparatus 1 from being contaminated by ink leaking from the mouth.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the joint portion 110 where the recording head 8 and the joint member 111 are connected. state. In this state, the spacer member 93 is pushed in the direction of the arrow α by the inclined portion 113 of the operating member 112 and slides. Since the spacer member 93 is pushed by the inclined portion 113 and slides in the direction of the arrow α, the head pressing member 91 rides on the cam portion 94, and the pressure from the head pressing member 91 to the recording head 8 is released. It is In other words, the recording head 8 can be pulled out from the recording apparatus 1 in this state.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing the head pressing member 91 and the recording head 8 corresponding to FIG. The head pressing member 91 rides on the cam portion 94 of the spacer member 93 that has slid in the direction of the arrow .alpha.

So far, the steps for releasing the connection between the recording head 8 and the joint member 111 have been described. will be Note that the recording head 8 is not limited to the full-line type, and may be a serial type that records an image by reciprocating scanning in the width direction of the recording medium.

That is, when the recording head 8 is inserted into the head holder 90 from the state before the recording head 8 is inserted, the joint member 111 starts moving for connection with the recording head 8 . Accordingly, the operating member 112 also moves. Due to the movement of the operating member 112, the spacer member 93 pressed against the inclined portion 113 of the operating member 112 starts to move (slide). The movement of the spacer member 93 causes the recording head 8 to be pressed by the head pressing member 91 . In this state, the recording head 8 and joint member 111 are not yet connected. After that, the recording head 8 and the joint member 111 are connected by moving the joint member 111 further.

14(a) and 14(b) are flow charts showing the processing when the recording head 8 is attached and removed. In FIG. 14A, when the printhead 8 mounting process is started, the user inserts the printhead 8 into the printing apparatus 1 in S1501. Then, in S1502, the joint member 111 starts moving to connect with the recording head 8, and in S1503, the recording head 8 is pressed by the head pressing member 91 while the spacer member 93 slides. After that, in S1504, the recording head 8 and the joint member 111 are connected. The processing from S1502 to S1504 is performed as a series of operations within the printing apparatus 1. FIG.

In FIG. 14B, when the print head 8 is removed, the joint member 111 starts moving to disconnect from the print head 8 in S1505. disconnect the Then, in S1507, the pressure on the recording head 8 is released while the spacer member 93 slides. After that, the user pulls out the recording head 8 from the recording apparatus 1 . The processing from S1505 to S1507 is performed as a series of operations within the printing apparatus 1. FIG.

In this manner, the recording head 8 can be pressed/released as the joint member 111 moves. When connecting the joint member 111 , the joint member 11 is connected after pressing the recording head 8 , and when disconnecting the joint member 111 , pressing of the recording head 8 is released after the joint member 111 is disconnected. As a result, the ink jet recording apparatus can prevent an erroneous operation such as pulling out the recording head 8 while the recording head 8 is being connected to the joint member 111, and the recording head can be attached and detached by an easy operation and a simple mechanism. can be realized.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 recording device 8 recording head 90 head holder 91 head pressing member 93 spacer member 94 cam portion 111 joint member 112 operating member 114 projecting portion

Claims (11)

a recording head that is detachable from the device and ejects ink;
joint means that is connected to the recording head at a connection position to transfer ink to and from the recording head, and that is movable from the connection position to a separated position where the connection with the recording head is released ;
pressing means for pressing the recording head;
a pressing release means for releasing the pressing of the pressing means against the recording head by moving ;
The joint means has an abutting portion that moves the pressure release means by abutting when moving from the connection position,
The abutting portion is separated from the pressure releasing means when the joint means is at the connected position to cause the pressing means to press the recording head, and when the joint means is at the separated position, the contact portion is separated from the pressure releasing means. An ink jet recording apparatus , wherein the pressure of the recording head by the pressing means is released by coming into contact with the recording head . 2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressing means comprises a plurality of said pressing means, and said pressing releasing means releases the pressing of said plurality of pressing means on said recording head substantially simultaneously. . 3. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressing means is rotatably supported at one end, and presses said recording head as it rotates. a recording head that is detachable from the device and ejects ink;
joint means that is connected to the recording head at a connection position to transfer ink to and from the recording head, and that is movable from the connection position to a separated position where the connection with the recording head is released;
pressing means for pressing the recording head;
a pressing release means for releasing the pressing of the pressing means against the recording head by moving;
The joint means has an abutting portion that moves the pressure release means by abutting when moving from the connection position,
An inkjet recording apparatus, wherein the pressing means is provided across the pressing releasing means. 5. The inkjet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the contact portion is an inclined portion having an inclined surface, and the pressure releasing means slides as the joint means moves. recording device. 6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressing means has a projecting portion, and said projecting portion presses said recording head. 7. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressing means is engaged with a spring, and presses said recording head by tension of said spring. 8. An inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said joint means is moved by a driving force of a connected driving source. a recording head that is detachable from the device and ejects ink;
joint means that is connected to the recording head at a connection position to transfer ink to and from the recording head, and that is movable from the connection position to a separated position where the connection with the recording head is released;
pressing means for pressing the recording head;
a pressing release means for releasing the pressing of the pressing means against the recording head by moving;
The ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the joint means is moved by a driving force of a connected driving source, and has an abutting portion that moves the pressure release means by abutting when moving from the connecting position. 10. An inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said drive source is a motor. The joint means is capable of moving to an intermediate position between the connected position and the separated position, where the joint means is disconnected from the recording head while the recording head is pressed by the pressing means. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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